236 The Irish Naturalist. [October, 



Totanus canescens,Gmel. Grkknshank. — Occasionally seen on the 

 North Bull in autumn and winter. Resembles the Redshank in fliirht. 

 but is one-third larger. The voice consists of four notes, each of 

 which receives equal emphasis. The voice of the Common Red- 

 shank consists also of four notes, but the fust two receive greater 

 accentuation. 



Liinosa aeg^ocephala, T.inn. Bi^ack-taii^ed Godwit.— Very rare 

 autumnal visitor, 



L. lapponica, LiuL'. Bar- tailed Godwit. — Regular visitor in 

 autumn, remaining till spring. A specimen was obtained last year 

 as early as August nth, by Mr. Williams. The Godwits are sombre- 

 plumed greyish-brown birds, distinguished by their intermediate 

 size between Redshanks and Curlew, and their long slightly recurved 

 beaks. 



Numenius arquata, Linn. Curi^KW. — Abundant on the coast in 

 autumn and winter. Characters familiar. Bill decurved. 



N. phaeopus, Linn. Whimbrel.— Occurs in autumn and spring, 

 collects into flocks in May. Inferior in size to the Curlew, but 

 resembles it in flight. Bill decurved. 



Order GAVL^. 



Hydrochelidon Icucoptera, Linn. White-winged Black Tern. 

 — Has been recorded twice from Dublin Ba}-, viz. : — October, 1841 

 {Saunders' N'civstelier, April 14, 1847) and another recorded by 

 Thompson {Birds of Ireland, iii., p. 307) without a date. See also 

 Yarrell, iii., p. 522. The colour of the bird is sufficient to distinguish 

 it. 



H. tiytori.da, I'allas. Whiskered Tern. — Has once occurred in 

 Dublin Bay in vSeptember, 1839 (Thompson. vSee also Life and 

 Letters of A. G. More, p. 603, and Yarrell, vol. iii., p. 528). Distinguished 

 by the white streak on the side of the face (whisker;. 



Sterna fluviatilis, Nauni. CommonTerx.— Generally occurs about 

 Dublin Bay every autumn, 



S. macrura, Naum. Arctic Tern.— Irregular visitor in autumn 

 prior to migration. Several occurred and some examples were 

 secured on the I4tli September, 1894. It is not possible to distinguish 

 the Arctic from the Common Tern on the wing. The following 

 differences can be made out in the dead specimens: — 



Common. Arctic. 



In summer, bill red and black. In summer, bill dull red. 



Tarso-metatarsus longer than in Tarso-metatarsns shorter than in 



Arctic Tern. Common Tern. 



Band on under side of wing prim- Band on under side of wing prim- 

 aries dark in colour. aries light in colour. 



Fork of tail shorter. 1' ork of tail longer. 



